Dummy Candidate Caught During Physics Exam at Nalasopara Centre; FIR Filed

Nalasopara, Maharashtra – In a shocking incident during the ongoing Maharashtra State Board's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, a dummy candidate was apprehended while appearing for the Physics paper at an exam centre in Nalasopara on Monday. This marks the first case of cheating in Mumbai division during the current examination session.

The fraud was uncovered during a surprise visit by the anti-copying flying squads of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE). The flying-squad members conducted an impromptu hall-ticket verification at Om Sai Junior College in Nalasopara, where they identified the impersonator. The verification was part of the routine checks, despite the college not being flagged as a "sensitive" exam centre.

Rajendra Ahire, the Chairman of the Mumbai division of the Maharashtra State Board, confirmed the incident, stating, “Flying squads are deployed to carry out random checks at exam centres. During one such visit, the dummy candidate was caught during the hall-ticket verification process.”

The matter was immediately reported to the Maharashtra State Board, which directed the examination centre to file a formal complaint with the Pelhar police station. As per standard procedure, an independent inquiry will be conducted by the board.

Legal action will be taken against the dummy candidate, and the student who resorted to impersonation will be banned from appearing for the board exams for the next three years. In addition, if any negligence is found at the exam centre, the institution’s approval as an exam centre could be revoked.

This case comes amid the Maharashtra State Board’s Copy-Free-Exam initiative, launched to curb malpractice during the exams. Despite stringent measures, incidents of copying continue to surface, with this being the first such incident reported in the Mumbai division during this year’s HSC exams.

The Maharashtra State Board's efforts to maintain the integrity of the exams have received significant attention, with the flying-squad visits serving as a key deterrent against malpractice.

Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process across all centres.